Submitted by Matthew on
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BLUF: How can I best give feedback when my staff are in an open plan office?
Detail:
My reports all sit in an open plan office. There are no desk dividers, they just sit two feet from the next person along the row.
If I give feedback at their desk (other than by whispering right into their ear), their neighbours will hear, embarassing them/the neighbour and getting in the way of the feedback.
If I ask them to step into my office, then it makes the feedback formal/serious, rather than light / delivered-in-passing.
What would you suggest?
Good question
I'm surprized noone else has commented on this after more than a year... Anyway, here I am!
This is an important question in my view. I find myself storing up feedback until an appropriate time (when I can catch them alone, or during an O3), and then having collected a few issues and missing the chance to give immediate feedback.
I'm also keen to hear suggestions!
Why not in one-on-one or by phone?
Hi Matthew,
Why not giving feedback in the weekly one-on-one? And what about giving your direct a phone call to give a feedback?
My problem with feedback is, that I am not able to track it, if I run in someone - or even more worse - I simply forget what to give feedback on.
Regards
Uwe
Phone Calls
We often suggest feedback in One on Ones if your direct is remote, so that is a very good suggestion.
What about over the phone? You could simply call their desk to give feedback. We do this in remote One on Ones often and it works. You can deliver a number of pieces of feedback at once. Since you have an office, it would allow for your half of the conversation to be private. That way the others would only hear their responses (which are probably just two yeses, right?). Their desk mates do not know that you called for feedback, so there is no embarrassment factor.
Sometimes we strive too much for privacy, when feedback is really no big deal. You might be over worrying about the directs response. They probably want to hear how they are doing. If you're very worried, try One on Ones and feedback as venues. Just don’t only give positive in public and negative in private. They’ll know which you're giving based on the situation and it will sully the model.
Kate
Hide within the ambient noise
I have given feedback inside a crowded conference room, by turning so no one can see my lips and doing it quick / quiet. This is even easier when there are a lot of conversations going on around you. Try doing it during a time of ambient noise. Another opportunity I find effective is walking down the hallway. I do try to avoid my office because it tends to lead to longer conversations - but I do give feedback in my office - and everywhere / anywhere else.
I believe that this was
I believe that this was covered in a cast already. In order to keep feedback immediate, and to help show that it is not too formal, just deliver it to them at their desk.
If you are holding to the ratio and delivering positive as well as negative, this behavior helps to reinforce that the purpose f feedback is to improve results. You congratulate them when it is good, and correct the course when something goes askew.
Mac